Improvement in furnaces for roasting and smelting ores



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G. W. CHENEY. FURNACES FOR ROASTING AND SMELTING ORES. 10.175,928.

Patente Apr INVENTGFI.

WITNESSES.

KZSheets-Sheetz.Y G. W. CHENEY.

FURNACES FOR ROASTING AND SMELTING DRES. No.175,9Z8. Patented ,April 11, 1876.

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w QM? 'FIM' N. PETERS. PHOTOLITHOGRAPRER. WASHINGTON, n C.

maar Ormea GEORGE W. CHENEY, OF WASHINGTON, D. C., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO ALBERT C. COUCH, OF PROVIDENCE, R. I.

IMPROVEMENT iN FURNACES FOR ROASTING AND SMELTlNG ORES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,928, dated April 11, 1876; application filed March 14, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. CHENEY, of the city of Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces for Roasting and Smelting Ores, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists of a smelting-furnace provided with retorts or roasters, through which the heat is conducted, after passing the Crucible or smeltingpot, for the purpose of roasting the ores, and also provided with a condenser, through which the draft passes before finally escaping from the chimney, the latter being for the purpose of condensing and throwing down such metals as may be passing off in a gaseousor volatile form. The roasters are situated around the iiue, and open into it in greater or less number, as may be desired, and by an arrangement of dampers the heat can be passed through the roasters, or a part of them, at will, or when the roasters are not required the heat passes along the main flue without being diverted. The roasters open externally through the masonry, and are charged with ore from the outside, while the openings into the flue are so situated with reference to the cruciblev that the ore when roasted is discharged through the iiue directly into the crucible. 'The condenser consists of a spray ot' water injected with the flue at some convenient point beyond the roasters from the lire, a basin or receptacle being provided beneath the spray, into which fall the products of the condensation and the water not evaporated. The furnace is of the reverberatory kind, the heat being deected upon the crucible, which is situated in close proximity to the fire-box.

In the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective View of my roasting and smelting furnace, with the side broken .away to show the interior. Fig. 2 is a section on line AB, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my roasting and smelting furnace on the line A B, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front elevation with a portion of the masonry broken away to show the condenser in the chimney.

W indicates the walls; B, the fire-box or furnace proper; f', the fire-door; a, the arch, and b the bridge beyond the fire, and separating it from the location of the crucible in which the ore is smelted. L is a deiiector for the purpose of directing the draft upon the ore in the crucible C. Suit-able openings o o are for drawing off the slag an'd the metal. 'The erueible may be a vessel capable of removal for the purpose of repair, or f being substituted by a new one. F is the main fine, connecting with which are the retoits` or roasters R. When the roasters are to be used this line is closed wholly or partially, as may be required, by the damper d. 'The heated current being checked is forced into the roasters, each of which is provided with a supplemental iiue,f, so situated as to take the current after it has traversed the whole length of the roaster. and conduct it back into the main due beyond the damper d. If only a portion of the roasters are to be used the remaining ones are closed by dampers d in iuesf.

It will be seen that the roasters are simply ovens built inthe masonry around the flue, through which the heat is directed by means ot'dampers. I prefer that the ore should be contained in retorts or trays constructed of proper material to resist destruction by heat, and adapted to slide into the ovens from the outside, a proper opening being made in each retort to correspond with the iue. This protects the masonry, and new retorts can be supplied from time to time, thus saving delays and expense in repairs. The ovens or retorts are closed externally by clay or other well-known means. For the same purpose I protect exposed points in other parts of the masonry by water contained in pipes.

In the construction of the furnace the portion of the arch which constitutes the deiiector L and the apron A is supported by the pipe t,

which pipe rests in the masonry. This pipe is supplied with water from the conductingpipe P, with which it is connected for the purpose of diminishing the heat at the exposed point. Another pipe, i', is located in the bridge b for the same purpose, and also supplied with water from the same source. 'The roasted ore is discharged upon the apron A, from which it falls into the Crucible.

The spray of Water to effect the condensing of such metals as may be passing off in a gas cous or volatile form is introduced into any convenient part of the main flue beyond 'the point where the flues from the roasters discharge into it, and is brought from a tank, elevated to givesuffcient force to the Water. It is obviously advantageous to locate the tank, as Well as the conducting-pipes, in such a manner as not to expose the Water to unnecessary heat before it is brought in contact with the gases. I? indicates the conductingpipe, and p a section of .pipewith perfora tions, located Within the flue. The spray falls Yinto any proper receptacle or vessel, V, Which also receives the metals thrown down or con densed. A small orifice or pipe, i2, discharges the Water as it accumulates. The amount of metal thus ,saved is very considerable.

vIt will be seen that by the arrangement described any degree of heat Within the power of the furnace to produce may be applied to the orc in the process of roasting, the same being under full control by means of the dampers described. The furnace is intended to bev` l. In a roasting and smelting furnace, the A combination, with the crucible and main ue, of roasters located above the cruciblc, and assembled around and communicating with the flue, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. Y

2.l In a roasting and smelting furnace, the combination and arrangement of the several parts described, namely, the fire-box B, crucible C, ue F, roasters R, having supplemental fines f, together with the dampers d d', for the purpose of controlling, regulating, and distributing the heat, as set forth, all substantially as specified. Y

3. In a roasting and smelting furnace, the combination and arrangement of the cruciblc, the main flue, the roasters, and the apron A,

for the purpose of discharging the ore from Y the roasters into the crucible.

4. In a structure or apparatus for roasting and smelting ores, the ovens or roasters It, having supplemental flues j', and operated by the surplus heat from the sinelting-furnace, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the ovens R and ues F f, in a furnace for reducing ores, the

G. W. CHENEY.

Witnesses:

EWELL A. DICK, HENRY R. ELLroTT. 

